The Russian investigation is examining possible collusion between the Trump campaign and Russian officials. Specifically, accusing them of working with Russian agents during the 2016 election in order to influence its outcome.

As you can imagine, the political battle lines have been drawn. On one side, a vengeful left sees treasonous blood in the water and is grasping at anything to damage the president. While on the other side, a concerned right is countering with hearsay and hoping it just fades away.

As the investigation proceeds, the vindictive hatred for the President is bringing out the worst in us, reaching epic nonsensical proportions. Congressmen and the media are relentless, talking about criminal actions, conspiracies, and impeachment. It is producing a carnival-like atmosphere consuming everyone’s time and effort.

However, hidden in the middle of these seditious plots and circus-like actions are very concerning issues. Issues, that if not addressed, will shake the very foundation of our nation and its’ citizens.

The real tragedy here is the total disregard for civil liberties and our national security.

President Trump supports a meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un

America and especially a virile left media are having trouble understanding the last few weeks of President Trump and U.S. foreign relations. Earlier in May, the President answered a reporter’s question who asked if he would meet the North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. The President’s comment went viral after he replied, in part, “I would be honored to meet with him.” His poor choice of words quickly bubbled to the top of media headlines as they condemned the president for his apparent praise of the barbaric despot and an enemy of the U.S.

President Trump meets with Russian Foreign Minster Igor Ivanov in the White House to exchange critical information on ISIS and threats to aviation

And adding more fuel to the foreign relations fire, the President met last week with the Russian foreign minister and ambassador where they exchanged supposed sensitive security information. The Russian meeting harkened quick criticism, but this time from both the left and right. Many were outraged that the president would release such information to a declared adversary?

However, what was missed was the significance of each exchange.

President Trump could be the first U.S. president to meet with a North Korean leader, unprecedented. And at a time when North Korean hostilities and nuclear provocation are at its height. Additionally, Trump’s desire for a relationship with Russia is on the heels of its Crimean annexation, involvement with another despot Bashar Assad of Syria and the fact that Russian foreign relations are degenerating back to Cold War behavior.

Each situation does beg the question of why. Why would President Trump meet a declared or better put, labeled enemy and adversary. And as every media pundit has pontificated, how can this be good for America?

It appears that the president is dangerously mishandling our foreign relations? Or is he?

After this week’s chemical attacks in Syria, I decided to blog on our current U.S. position as it might compare to President Obama’s “red line” decision in 2012. During my research, I came across Derek Chollet’s 2016 article, “Obama’s Red Line, Revisited.” At that time, Mr. Chollet was the Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs under President Obama. His article resonates today and possesses merit on President Obama’s handling of Syria’s chemical attacks in 2013.

But for reasons that are markedly different than what the Assistant Secretary surmised.

Our media and Democrats, as well as some hard-line Republicans, are painting an adversarial picture of Russia. Demonizing them as an “enemy” or “threat” responsible for election hacking, regional instability and on the wrong side of Syria. To be honest, Russia’s actions and behavior over the last eight years has been abhorrent and could present a credible threat. But to who and at what level? Judging any nation (emphasis on “nation”) on how they govern and more specifically on regional actions or national interests is hypocritical. The U.S. is quick to pass judgment on others without reflecting on their own actions (i.e. Middle East, Snowden, etc.) and inability to see through other’s lenses — there are no sacred cows! This does not mean that the U.S. cannot pass judgment nor does it give Russia a pass, but one must look to strategic rationale before they label and worse, shut the door on a critical relationship. The U.S. is losing

The U.S. is losing ground internationally and if we are to rebound from the last eight years of apologetic foreign policies and diminishing power, the U.S. must revive this key relationship, ignoring it will be a mistake.

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